Second Chance At Happiness (Holiday, Vermont, #2) by Heather Lire
Romance Contemporary
August 1, 2013
Desert Breeze Publishing
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “When I imagine myself as an old woman sitting in my chair, the person I want by my side is you.”
When Colin MacCaffe’s personal life comes crashing down around him, he leaves the big city behind for a fresh start in the small town of Holiday Vermont. As the Deputy Chief of Police he spends his time making sure the town he’s come to call his own is safe. The only problem in his peaceful life is the arrival of his next door neighbor’s sister. A woman who threatens to destroy the peace of his new life.
After years of putting one foot in front of the other, acting like she was fine for her family Brynn Sanderson – Jackson is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. All she wants is a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation while she house sits for her sister. What she gets instead is a trip to the hospital, emergency surgery, and the neighbor next door. A man who makes her feel more than she wants to.
Can these two put their past heartaches behind them, and go after the happiness they’ve always wanted and thought was forever lost to them? (Goodreads)
Heather Lire’s Second Chance At Happiness, the second book in her Holiday, Vermont series, is a sweet lightweight romance with an strong inspirational tone to it. Love and family are two primary themes that interrelate throughout the book, giving us an intimate look at two heart weary people given a second chance at love again. Emotional and humorous scenes keeps the story moving at a steady pace.
Colin MacCaffe and Brynn Sanderson have bickered and snapped at one another for years, using their supposed animosity to hide the deep attraction they feel for one another. When Colin comes home to Holiday following a nasty divorce and seeking a fresh start, he’s dismayed to find Brynn next door housesitting for her sister and brother in law while they are on vacation. Colin’s grandma, who is staying with him for awhile, pushes Colin to go check on Brynn as she hasn’t been seen for a few days. Colin finds Brynn unconscious and we learn she had an appendix rupture and she became septic. With Brynn’s family unable and unwilling to come to her aid and Colin’s grandma mysteriously disappearing, Colin finds himself having to take care of Brynn once she is released from the hospital.
Brynn almost dying has showed Colin that he needs to act on his feelings for Brynn before he loses his chance for good. Her health issues forces both of them to build a relationship that doesn’t involve sex, which is an anomaly with the current trend sexually motivated romances. I enjoyed watching Colin and Brynn really get to know one another without having a bed to fall into whenever life got to be too much. Communication is at a premium with this couple and Lire does a wonderful job of slowly fanning the flames of passion in their relationship, using that as the primary building block. They really get to know one another and I found the lack of conflict that usually goes hand in hand with intense sexual relationships refreshing. Colin shows Brynn that her wealth and previous marriage is a non issue for him. He knows and accepts that Jackson, Byrnn’s deceased husband, will always hold a special place in her heart and he is willing to share her love. Brynn in turn shows Colin that when she commits, it’s one hundred percent. His ex wife and sisters really did a number on him. I ADORED Brynn’s scenes with Colin’s sisters. I like seeing a heroine with a healthy self esteem. She doesn’t hold back and for the first time ever, Colin feels like he is number one in someones life.
Fun and personable secondary characters add depth and continually to the storyline, allowing for us to get to know past and future heroes and heroines. Brynn’s siblings cracked me up and I liked that Colin’s family (mom and dad) finally stepped up to the plate and reiterated that family comes first. I enjoyed the sub story with Ben though I wish we could have had some interaction with his sister, Donna as she was an integral part of the conflict being built within that storyline. I’d like to heard her reasons for her animosity towards Brynn and her family. Colin’s ex wife also fell flat for me. I didn’t understand her motivations as her accusations were all so very easily disproved. I did like the clues we are given towards Case’s and Justin’s stories. It all sounds very intriguing.
This is my first time reading Ms. Lire’s work but it won’t be my last. I enjoyed my visit to Holiday, Vermont and look forward to visiting again. Second Chance At Passion, book three, is set to release in December 2013.
Rating: B-
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